What is the difference between buffalo and bison?

Kainantu

Is it a bison or buffalo? Because bison in America resembled the buffalo of the old world, explorers also called them buffalo. Actually, the word buffalo is believed to have been used by English settlers. This term was said to have been a modification of the name 'les boeufs' which French explorers gave to oxen or cattle. The term evolved, and soon many variations such as 'buffler,' 'boeffle,' and 'buffilo' were used. Although the terms buffalo and bison are now used synonymously, the scientific name for the 'buffalo' found in America is bison. Bison = Artiodactyla Ruminata Bovidae The 'true' buffalo are often referred to as those in Asia or Africa. They belong to a different family than the American bison. The physical differences are more evident. These buffalo do not have a large hump and have a more slick appearance. African Buffalo = Syncerus caffer caffer and Syncerus caffer nanus Asian Buffalo = Bubalus bubalis http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/edu/activities/bison/taxonomy/taxonomy.htm This is a better site with lots more information and photographs: http://www.csew.com/cattletag/Cattle%20Website/Fact_Sheets/American_Bison/American_Bison.htm Jan 26 03, 4:10 AM

debdoll

Bison is the proper name for the largest mammal in North America, commonly known as the American Buffalo. A completely unrelated mammal, the buffalo, is found only in Africa and southeast Asia. Those animals are known as Cape Buffalo, in Africa, and the water buffalo in southeast Asia. Sep 02 06, 8:05 PM

ChRiSyUcK

The National Bison Association encourages the name bison to differentiate the American buffalo from the Asian Water buffalo and African Cape buffalo Apr 08 07, 10:39 PM